Thank You, Commissioner Madigan

CHEER'S
Transparency, it sounds like a nice word when a politician uses it in a speech, but the word means more when it is put in use.  I would like to thank Commissioner Michele Madigan for not only talking the talk, but walking the walk.  She has been in office for 6 months and a few months ago she put a transparency tab on the homepage of the City's website titled 'transparency'.  If you click on that tab guess what, you can go to any year from 2008 thru 2012 (anticipated), revenues and expenses of each Department and it is even broken down by individual line items for the 5 Departments.  We want to thank Commissioner Madigan for this benefit to all who would want to view the information; you get the Golden Peach Award.

Now, the flip side of the coin.

JEER'S

Since Mayor Johnson has been in office, every department and the employees under his authority cannot speak to or give any public information to citizens of Saratoga Springs.  That's right, information we have a legal right to see can't be given to us unless of course we file a FOIL request and bring the City Attorney into the picture.  

Can you say APATHY?  I spoke with 2 people who worked at the polls for Tuesday's primary; one District had a total of 16 voters cast their ballot and the other, 16. It's the old Saratoga mentality "When I turn on my faucet and water comes out, and my leaves are picked up, everything is right with the City".  

The Mayor is running a socialist department and sadly, not many seem to care.  If enough people demanded to see information that is public I'm almost sure his attitude would change (?) and we wouldn't be FOILED again.  Sorry Mr. Mayor, you get the Raspberry Award for this one.

Ssaratoga Springs Commissioner of Finance

Michele Madigan

Deputy Mayor Sutton Repays Favor?

 Much was made of the fact that at Tuesday's Council meeting Commissioner of Finance Michelle Madigan reappointed Rob Mains to the Civil Service Commission.  Rob is the husband of Amy Durland who is a member of the Planning Board and now the sole Democrat holding a seat on that Board.  With no conflict of interest, the Mayor said Tuesday night the Mayor questioned Madigan about her motivations or if she “had been put up to it”.  The story here is that the Mayor had promised a contract to paint a sign at the City's Recreation Center.  The painter that got the $10,000.00 contract is the husband of Shauna Sutton’s best friend who also happens to work with Shauna, who happens to be the Deputy Mayor.  Oh, by the way, the City employees a head painter who could have done the job.  This is a glaring conflict of interest which the Mayor had not one comment about when the contract came up for a vote.  Maybe the gentleman who was awarded the $10,000.00 painted the houses of Scott Johnson and Shauna Sutton.  The more you dig the more rot you uncover.